Overview:
The species, Calamaria mizoramensis, has been formally described in the international journal Zootaxa following detailed morphological examinations and DNA-based analyses.
Guwahati: Scientists have identified a new species of non-venomous reed snake from Mizoram, resolving a decades-long taxonomic confusion and adding a previously unknown species to India’s reptile fauna.
The species, Calamaria mizoramensis, has been formally described in the international journal Zootaxa following detailed morphological examinations and DNA-based analyses.
Specimens from Mizoram had earlier been classified as part of a widespread Southeast Asian species. However, the new study establishes that this population represents a distinct evolutionary lineage unique to the state.
Globally, the genus Calamaria comprises 69 recognised species, most of which are small, secretive, and poorly studied. The newly described Mizoram species is non-venomous and poses no threat to humans.
The research was led by scientists from Mizoram University in collaboration with researchers from Russia, Germany, and Vietnam. The team analysed specimens collected over more than a decade from forested areas in and around Aizawl, Reiek, Sihphir, and Sawlêng, as well as parts of Mamit and Kolasib districts.
Genetic comparisons revealed that the Mizoram reed snake differs by more than 15 per cent from its closest known relatives — a level of divergence widely considered sufficient to recognise a new species.
According to the researchers, the species is currently confirmed only from Mizoram, though its presence in neighbouring regions cannot be ruled out.
“Its occurrence in other parts of India remains unverified, but it is likely to be present in adjoining states such as Manipur, Nagaland, and Assam. A possible extension into the Chittagong region of Bangladesh also requires further confirmation,” the authors noted.
The species is described as nocturnal and semi-fossorial, inhabiting humid, forested hill environments. It has been recorded at elevations ranging from 670 to 1,295 metres above sea level, including locations close to human settlements such as the Mizoram University campus.
Based on currently available information, the researchers have tentatively assessed the species as ‘Least Concern’ under the IUCN Red List criteria, citing its occurrence across multiple localities and the absence of major identified anthropogenic threats.
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In addition to describing the new species, the study presents an updated checklist of Mizoram’s herpetofauna, documenting 169 species — including 52 amphibians and 117 reptiles — highlighting the state’s high reptile and amphibian diversity.
The researchers said the discovery underscores the need for continued biological surveys in Northeast India, particularly in forested hill regions where many species remain poorly documented.
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